VAR officials admit mistake over Moussa Djenepo handball

VAR officials admit mistake over Moussa Djenepo handball

VAR officials have confessed Danny Ings’ equaliser for Southampton against Watford must have been disallowed for handball by Moussa Djenepo in the build-up.
Before crossing to make it 1-1 in the 78th minute of a battle between two sides fighting involving the foot of the Premier 42, the Southampton winger appeared to get to the ball with his hand within the penalty area.
Saints proceeded to win the game 2-1 and heap further pressure on Hornets director Quique Sanchez Flores, whose side had gone but remain bottom of the table after their eighth defeat.
VAR officials ran through a variety of replays but didn’t place the handball. They also assessed if the ball went out of play and then if it strike had hit Ings’ hand.
The officials did not want to slow down the game farther, so play resumed, but retrospectively they’ve recognized the ball did touch Djenepo’s hand along with the goal should not have stood.
Sanchez Flores, that just replaced the sacked Javi Gracia in September, said he did”not want to talk too much” about it as it could”seem like explanations”, however his players had been fuming at the mistake.
Will Hughes told Sky Sports:”If you look at the replays, when we’re likely to get VAR from the Premier League, it does not really matter how much time it’s going to take, you need to get to the ideal choice.
“In the ruleswe all understand, whether its intentional or unintentional handball, as an attacking player – it’s a free-kick. It is the third time this year that it has happened against us. It’s rather deflating, when you see that.
“It is annoying when you look back at this today. We felt comfortable. That gets disallowed, we are 1-0 upwe may get the second and go on to win the game.”